Since this was a major week for spoilers, I felt like doing a podcast and not talking about it at all wouldn’t have made much sense. I haven’t had the Possessionista on in almost a year, so I figured what better time to bring her back to talk about the spoiler that I broke this past Tuesday. So yes, for those that sometimes get upset when they listen to the podcast and accidentally hear a spoiler in it, just know that the WHOLE podcast today is dedicated to Tuesday’s spoiler, as we talk about it from a lot of different angles. It’s been a crazy two days to say the least and the response has been pretty much what I expected. Very few people are happy with Arie, but then again, did he really think they would be? And still, it’s one thing for me to tell you 5 weeks beforehand of what to expect, but it’s a whole other thing to actually watch this play out during the finale. I’m sure you’ll be even more bothered by it when you actually watch him do it. As always, if you want to respond to the podcast, please include Dana’s Twitter handle (@Possessionista) in your replies so she can see them too. We had some audio issues on her end during the first 20 minutes, so some of her answers may seem choppy, but the last 25 minutes or so those are cleared up. Thanks again to Dana for coming on and breaking this down with me. Enjoy…

You can listen to today’s podcast on a number of platforms, but you can also tune in by clicking the player below:

(SPOILERS) Dana joins me to discuss in detail the spoiler that I broke this past Tuesday. I know some of you don’t like to hear spoilers in the podcast, but this one is ALL about spoilers. So even people that are just reading this, instead of doing time stamps of topics which would reveal them, I’ll even refrain from printing those for those not wanting to know. Just know that if you don’t want to know anything about what happens at the end of Arie’s season, today’s podcast isn’t for you. You’ve been warned. Everyone else who wants to hear the spoiler dissected from all different angles, I hope you enjoy it.

Also, Episode 8 of the “He Said, She Said” monthly podcast with Sharleen Joynt is up right now at Stitcher Premium. Click on that link, use the Promo Code: STEVE, and you can get the first month free. After that, it’s $4.99/month or $29.99 if you sign up for a year, which gives you access to all of Stitcher’s podcast library. It’s a monthly podcast that Sharleen and I are doing to talk about all things relationship/marriage/dating/sex based. In this month’s episode, Sharleen and I talk about her current opera gig that has her in British Columbia for the next 5 weeks, we talk about Krystal from this season of the “Bachelor” (7:16), and then caller Alex in Cleveland comes on to tell us about a guy she was dating that suddenly ended it out of nowhere (17:07). Enjoy…

8 Comments

TeresaRenee

January 25, 2018 at 10:41 AM

I don’t think Melissa acted shocked on the AFTR with Jason so much as she was mad at him once he admitted to having feelings for Molly. She didn’t believe him when he said he hadn’t been talking to her. She has confirmed this numerous times.

TeresaRenee

January 25, 2018 at 10:59 AM

Steve, it’s clear as day you dislike Melissa. Just wanted to say that her time on the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders show was not her seeking that out. She just happened to be trying out the year the show started. Also, she didn’t go seeking the after show tv gigs that she landed either. Just like DWTS, she was asked and decided to take the opportunities. She since has realized that she likes hosting and has continued to pursue it. So what? Why accuse a girl of being in it from the get go just to be on TV? Nowadays, yes that happens a lot. But I think in Melissa’s case, she was given opportunities that she wasn’t seeking and took them. Who wouldn’t?

LM111

January 25, 2018 at 2:35 PM

I agree that Melissa seemed more mad than surprised in her After show with Jason. Personally, I never really liked her. Of all Jason’s girls, I liked her the least… I remember that season well… I was on the phone during the finale, saw that he picked her and didn’t care much. Then, still on the phone, watched the after show on silent until the drama ensued. Quickly hung up with my friend and watched the train wreck in all it’s glory. For the very first time, I actually liked the show. Thanks Jason! I wouldn’t have stumbled across this site if not for that episode. I googled it and found RealitySteve. I’ve been watching and reading ever since.
Now, a few comments on Arie – one of the worst bachelors, second only to Juan Pablo. Not because he’s a womanizer or shallow, I don’t care about that. He’s just boring. The girls are ok. This season seems blah to me. I don’t feel bad for Becca (why? she got dumped by a guy she dated less than 3 months? Oh, boo hoo. That’s just life. It’s a TV show. She knew the risks). My first thought upon hearing that the filming vans went to Lauren’s parents’ house was: Wow. Maybe they’re going to reshoot the ending so it looks like Arie picked Lauren in the first place. I mean, wouldn’t they love to prove Reality Steve wrong? Of course, they’d have to get Becca on board but that would be a cinch (promise her the Bachelorette gig for a reshoot). I know, it’s far fetched but that was my first thought. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out. I wasn’t going to watch, but I’ll watch now!!

I remember Melissa saying to Jason that she was upset because Jason didn’t fight for her. I also remember that the issue with Molly during the show seemed to be that she didn’t necessarily appear to be ready to fully commit. (Such an issue after like 4 dates, right?) So I think Jason panicked a little not being sure of Molly & therefore picked Melissa who seemed to be 100% in it for Jason. I think that’s often how these picks end up happening. The leads look for reassurance that who they pick is really into them & not just on the show for the fame, cash and prizes. I do think that was 100% organic and a result of Jason panicking then regretting his decision. And, I don’t blame Melissa. It’s not her fault that Jason picked her and then, regretting his decision, wasn’t focused on her & basically gave up on the relationship. So, with Melissa getting the sympathy vote from America, she got several media opportunities thrown at her, which she decided to take. I think I even remember her being on Fear Factor and also kind of co-hosting with Chris Harrison for a couple of episodes, along with some other gigs that she showed up to, including DWTS. I think most of us would have done the same. I’m not saying Melissa is a good person or a nice person, I have no idea. But, I’m not aware of anything horrible that she did to deserve to be disliked by RS. But is also to feel free to think what he wants.

The difference this time is that, and I guess we’ll have to let it play out a little bit, is that it seems like Arie isn’t going to panic. He’s just going to want to run up the score with as many women as possible. So, while Jason made an honest mistake under pressure, I think Arie just isn’t going to ever be happy with any pick he makes. There’s always going to be another woman he wants. Also, I think he’s totally open to producer manipulation. If he was expressing some regret over his choice, or indicating that the relationship with Becca wasn’t going well, I could easily see him being open to a producer suggestion to do a switcharoo. Jason proved that his was an honest mistake by actually marrying Molly. I very much doubt that Arie will do the same. His calculations , whatever they are, are much more likely to be cynical in nature.

tinyred500

January 26, 2018 at 9:58 AM

I enjoyed the podcast and didn’t pick up on anything negative that RS had to say about Melissa. I’ve not seen Jason’s season and so perhaps that’s why I have a different view. RS just pointed out she took opportunities that were offered to her which she was open to. I agree with rob22 when he says that most would do the same now, perhaps things were different then and most didn’t. I’m not going to knock her for it, she took opportunities and changed her life how she felt fit.

Arie and Jason are two entirely different men. Arie has said himself that he’s attracted to all types of personalities…..that’s not good for any kind of commitment. He may never settle down and always be Peter Pan.

I still feel for Becca and I think it’s harsh to say it’s what she signed for. Yes, it’s the oddest beginning for any kind of relationship and no not the love of her life either. Yes, humiliation and embarrassment is part of what they must expect when they do the show, but there is a limit to what anyone would expect or put up with. With luck she’ll breathe a sign of relief as she knows her fate with him (and Lauren should be aware her relationship has a very probable limited time span) and be fine for the ATFR show…but we all know Chris H along with the producers like to goad them into getting emotional etc., I hope it isn’t all one huge car crash of a show!

Neither Arie or Lauren deserve being trolled on social media for what’s happened though. I personally don’t do Twitter or IG, they are the very worse places for trolls and fake news. People get very aggressive, rude and personal with people they don’t know nor met. I recently listened to RS podcast with Olivia Caridi and the amount of social media abuse she received during her season. Just best to turn the things off and ignore (which her Sister did with Olivia’s accounts). 🙂

shenanigans

January 26, 2018 at 1:57 PM

At the time, the scuttlebutt about Melissa was clear: she behaved one way when the cameras were on and a different way when they weren’t. I was put off by her behavior on ATFR because she acted like they hadn’t already broken up, when they had. I understand that she was angry that Jason didn’t reveal his feelings for Molly. However, it was really odd the way Melissa sat there pouting like a child and talking about herself in the third person. Then, she badmouthed Jason & Molly to any talk show host that would listen. They, in turn, never said a bad word about her, which showed me something about their character.

As far as Melissa now, if you check her Facebook page, she posts a lot and clearly has a following. But, much of what she posts is shallow and materialistic. Molly, in turn, tends to post about her charity work at the radio station. They really ARE two very different women.

ctrealitygirl

January 29, 2018 at 10:43 AM

Just to add something to rob22’s post, I’ve heard Jason in a couple of interviews over the years discuss what happened at the end of his season. And he contends that he told the producers that he was torn between the two and that he did NOT want to propose but they wouldn’t let up on him and basically forced his hand. I believe he explained that his head was telling him one thing while his heart was telling him something else. And you could see his despair when he let Molly go…leaning over the balcony sobbing. That was pre-spoilers I believe…or at least I was not aware of them. But watching that season it was obvious to me Molly was “the one” and I was SO disappointed when the limo pulled up and I spotted the purple dress as she got out. Melissa was too over-the-top for me…Molly was more down to earth.